Community Health & Education

The community we live in is part of who we are, and St. Louis County Public Health recognizes the importance of implementing community and systems-level prevention initiatives and interventions for all age populations. We work with local partners to improve the opportunity for health and well-being for all through things like mental health awareness and substance use prevention.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Everyone has mental health. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. At St. Louis County Public Health, we promote positive mental health, as it allows people to:

Realize their full potential.
Cope with the stresses of life.
Work productively.
Make meaningful contributions to their communities.

St. Louis County Public Health has a team of dedicated staff members focused on mental health and well-being strategies that support whole populations across our communities. We are available to offer technical assistance regarding mental health awareness, suicide prevention, local policies and procedures, and provide additional resources or support your organization may need. You can contact us to explore partnerships, training offerings and community engagement opportunities with your organization. We value community input and are always looking for ways to collaborate. Additionally, our team holds credentials in the following trainings:

SafeTALK Suicide Prevention
Changing the Narrative
Youth Mental Health First Aid

Please note, these positions do not work to support individuals, nor are they in a capacity to support crisis response. Click HERE to read more about services provided through our Adult Mental Health Unit or call 218-335-1530 in the southern portion of the county and 218-471-7128 in the northern portion of the county. If you need free and confidential support, call or text 9-8-8, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you need immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Other Resources and Helplines

St. Louis County Mobile Crisis Unit: 1-844-772-4724
National Suicide and Crisis Helpline (text or call 24/7): 9-8-8 (Press 1 to be routed to Veterans Crisis Line, 2 for Spanish, 3 for LGBTQ+)
Minnesota Text Line: text “MN” to 741-741

Substance Use Prevention

St. Louis County Public Health has a team of dedicated staff members who work to promote overall health and wellness of communities by preventing and/or delaying substance use. Our staff are available to offer technical assistance on topics including teen substance use, prevention methods, harm reduction, recovery, and more. Contact us to explore partnerships, training offerings, and community engagement opportunities with your organization.

Please note, these positions do not offer assessments or act as a referral service. Please visit our Adult Services page on Substance Use and Recovery, by clicking HERE to learn more about services available through St. Louis County. The St. Louis County Treatment Coordination Team can be reached at 218-725-5260. If you need immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Coalition Work

St. Louis County partakes in various collaborative efforts surrounding substance use prevention and education, including hosting the Chemical Awareness Prevention and Education (CAPE) Coalition in northern St. Louis County. Click HERE to learn more about CAPE. We also sit in on the Community Solutions for Substance Use and Recovery (CSSUR). Click HERE to learn more about Community Solutions.

Harm Reduction

Harm reduction is a recognized public health model that has been used since the early 1980s to reduce the negative consequences associated with drug use, including preventing overdoses, reducing the spread of infectious disease, and other harms resulting from drug use. We like to compare harm reduction efforts to wearing a helmet while biking or a seatbelt while driving; while they can’t stop an accident from happening, they can lower the chance of harm or even death.

St. Louis County Public Health supports various aspects of harm reduction including the distribution of fentanyl testing supplies, proper medication disposal, testing for infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C, overdose reversal education and training, and offering support and resources to those who have been affected by substance use disorders, either directly or indirectly. Our department works closely with numerous local harm reduction programs, including Harm Reduction Sisters, Recovery Alliance Duluth, and Rural Aids Action Network. To learn more about the services these programs offer, check out the resource tab below.

Opioid Remediation Funds

To learn more about the Opioid Remediation Settlement across St. Louis County, click HERE or contact Jana Blomberg.

School Supports

St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services works with schools in a variety of ways, from asthma management to social services. We are fortunate to have relationships with our schools at regional and district levels, collaborating on efforts such as the Lion Heart Experience, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Changing the Narrative, SafeTALK, and Positive Community Norms.

Much of the work we prioritize with schools is based on the Minnesota Student Survey and Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. We are always looking for new ways to engage with student populations and are committed to promoting positive well-being for all schools, students, and staff within our county, region, and state. Click HERE to learn more about the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey Report. Click HERE to learn more about the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Please reach out to our School Liaison, Raymond Jobe, to connect about additional resources and supports St. Louis County Public Health can offer local schools.